Driver Distraction Costs 6,000 Lives a Year; Many Teens

The Transportation Department was bringing together experts over two days for what it’s calling a “distracted driving summit” to take a hard look at the highway hazards caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting from behind the wheel.
Secretary Ray LaHood was expected to offer recommendations today that could lead to new restrictions on using the devices while driving.
LaHood said the administration would “work with Congress” to develop ways of curbing distracted driving. The meeting would solicit ideas to address the problem “similar to what went on with seat belts and (blood-alcohol limits of) 0.08 where you really educate the public, where you tell people that they have to take personal responsibility for these things.
Hours before the start of the meeting, Transportation officials said in a research report that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes where at least one form of driver distraction was reported. Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008.
The panel of government officials, safety advocates, researchers and lawmakers hoped to develop a consensus on the roadway hazards and hear warnings from young adults who caused car accidents because they were texting while driving.
The new data underscored the major problem of distractions involving young drivers. The greatest proportion of distracted drivers were those age 20 and under. Sixteen percent of all under-20 drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving, the government said.
CTIA also supports a ban on texting while driving but has argued that education and enforcement are critical to changing driver behavior. CTIA and the National Safety Council announced plans for public service announcements warning teen drivers of the dangers of distracted driving.
Please be informed, aware and undistracted whilst driving. You and your life is precious. Save your life and aim for cheap auto insurance.

Tagged with: Blood Alcohol Limits • Car Accidents • Ctia • Distractions • Driver Behavior • Driver Distraction • Fatal Crashes • National Safety Council • Personal Responsibility • Public Service Announcements • Ray Lahood • Roadway Hazards • Safety Advocates • Seat Belts • Teen Drivers • Texting • Transportation Department • Transportation Officials • Young Adults • Young Drivers

Filed under: Car claim and car insurance quote • Cheap Car Insurance for teenagers • Latest News on Teen Crashes

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!

Possibly related posts